Encourage Others
By Sharing
YOUR Story

"No matter who we are, we need to spend more time with kids. The world will change when we pour into them," Marilyn Kelly solemnly states as her voice trails away. Kelly has done exactly that for over 35 years; she has tirelessly worked with all kinds of children in various roles to positively impact her corner of the world

Kelly, known affectionately as Ms. Kelly, by all the children and parents that she serves, began her journey as a teenage babysitter for her neighborhood, and from that point, she was always around children. In 1973 she began working for Head Start, and 20 years later she opened her own daycare, Ms. Kelly's Daycare, and still operates it today. When asked about retirement, Ms. Kelly can't quite imagine her life without serving children, even though, she is at the ripe age of 67 and has recently celebrated being cancer-free for one year. Even in retirement, she plans to still serve children on a part-time basis; shes's adamant about being available to be a part of her great grandchildren's lives and others who still may need her help.

Any day of the week, you can catch Ms. Kelly pouring into children at her daycare, attending their special events and parties, assisting with homework, preparing meals, and building self-esteem. She goes well above the title of a Daycare Provider to selflessly care for children of all backgrounds, some with special needs, enduring homelessness, and even strained family situations. Opening up her home outside of daycare hours, a shoulder to cry on, loving arms to fall in, and so much more, Ms. Kelly is everything to the families she serves. Ms. Kelly's Daycare is a safe haven for kids to be kids, as her main goal is to provide them with love and show them that she cares. A mother of three, grandmother of five, and great-grandmother to another 5, Ms. Kelly knows she can still learn from her kids. She makes sure to get on their level and understand their perspective, including their homework, and she also teaches them her way and what she knows. This type of symbiotic environment is a breeding ground to build confident and strong young minds.

Ms. Kelly is a firm believer that all kids really want is love and attention, and as the adults in their lives, we are their leaders and teachers and should lavish them with that love and attention. "Kids never forget love! They forget material things, but love lasts forever," says Ms. Kelly as a reminder to pay attention and talk to the children under our influence.

Oftentimes in our communities, people like Ms. Kelly can go unnoticed; she's providing exceptional care to affect generations and not looking for a pat on the back or big fortune. She wakes up every day and walks out God's purpose for her life regardless of what kind of day she's facing and who may need her help. For this reason, she is the first Dandelion Dreams Epitome of Excellence awardee. Ms. Kelly is just like the dandelion that has over 100 species and many benefits; her love is plentiful and she benefits everyone under her sphere of influence.